A/n: Mate, this prompt had me bamboozled. It made no sense to me, especially the first one, and it still makes no sense to me but we'll see what I can do.
"I'll take one final step, all you have to do is make me. What on earth does that mean? I mean, could anyone be even the slightest bit more confusing?" Sophie complained, bustling into the room with shopping bags in hand.
Now, normally Hort would have jumped up to help her the second she appeared in the doorway, but not today. Because today when he'd walked in, he'd seen the flowers on the table addressed to Sophie. Nothing else written on the note, just her name. So he was not going to help her today, no sir-ee.
"Hort? Oh, what are you sulking about now? Come and help me, would you?"
"Oh, so you do know I exist?"
"Of course I do, what are you talking about?" She paused, placing the bags on the table.
"Where are the flowers from?"
"What? What flowers?" Her perfect brows pulled together delicately in confusion. He gestured to them, and the confusion was gone. "Oh, those. No idea."
"I'm not as stupid as you think I am, Sophie."
She looked genuinely lost at his words, but she didn't understand. He'd done everything for her, tried everything he could to win her over since the second he'd spotted her golden locks falling from the sky along with the rest of her that first day of school. He'd changed his habits, his body, everything because he knew that he'd never be the same as those other princes she fawned over, that they would always be superior in her mind. And now that she'd finally accepted him, was it because he was finally enough? Or was it because she took pity on him, or something else? He was fighting constantly for her affection even after he got it, the only difference from before being that he was fighting to keep her affection.
Yet here was a bouquet, obviously given to her by an admirer. She had many admirers, beautiful as she was, but she usually took the praise and presents and threw them out the second she got back with them unless they were particularly personal or sweet. She was a witch, yes, but not entirely heartless.
There was something different about this bouquet though, a feeling he had about it that set him on edge. If it'd had more of a message on the small card attached to it, he'd have known it was probably Agatha sending flowers from Camelot as she did sometimes along with a letter. But this…?
It wasn't even so much the bouquet itself. It was all the insecurities it brought up, the doubts he had on whether he was enough or not, if Sophie was truly happy with him because that was all he ever wanted her to be really, whether that meant being with him or not.
"Oh Hort," she started, noticing his set jaw and moving closer. "It's not what you think - "
"Isn't it?"
"No. There was a letter attached that I already removed. It was delivered by a stymph from Gavaldon. How my father managed to figure it out, the magic that'd let him do that, I don't know, but he sent them. I thought I might as well keep the flowers. Stop worrying, Hort. You know I'm so fabulous that people can't but help give me gifts daily, why is this bothering you so much?"
He processed the words slowly. "Oh," he said. "I - I just… "
Soft lips met his, silencing him. When the two parted from their kiss, he smiled down at her.
"Worry too much? I love you Hort, nothing and no one will ever change that. Except maybe Aggie, I'd probably choose her over you in some situations but point is, you don't need to fight for me anymore. I'm yours, Hort. No matter how long it took me to see that."
"Thank you," he whispered, kissing her again.
"Happy to help. Now, maybe you can help me. I heard a couple boys arguing earlier, and one of them said something that bamboozled me quite a bit…"
A/n: I don't usually write these two, but considering the prompt, they were the only two I really felt fit for it. Eh, I tried at least, even if it was pretty short and definitely not my best. Hort's a sweet guy though, even if he does have some pretty crippling insecurities and Sophie isn't always successful at making them go away.
Anyway, stay safe, and see ya soon.
- CrowofArcadiaOaks
